Spear



June 10, 1930.

E. GRAY SPEAR Filed March 5, 1929 Patented dune 1d, 193% PATENT GFFIQE ELLSWORTH GRAY, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS SPEAK Application filed March 5, 1929.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a spear.

One object of the invention is to provide a spear of the character described adapted 5 to be engaged with a pipe stuck in a well bore and through which said stuck pipe may be dislodged and removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described that may be quickly and easily disengaged from the stuck pipe and withdrawn, in case the pipe cannot be pulled from the bore.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is of very simple construction, may be cheaply and easily produced and which is more ctlicient, in use, than devi es now in use for similar purpose.

Vl ith the above and other objects in view this invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts an example of which is given in this specification and wherein Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional view of the spear.

Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view taken on the line .2 2 of Figln'e l, and

Figure 3 shows a fragmentary side View. Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each. of the Figures the numeral 1 designates a tubular opcrating stem which is adai 'ited to lower the spear into and withdraw it from a well bore and which, when in use, extends to the ground surface. Connected, by the coupling 2, to the lower end of this stem 40 there is a tubular mandrel 3 to the lower end of which the tubular guide e is attached. The lower end of this guide is tapered, as at 5, and its upper end is reduced and externally threaded, having the left hand threads (3. Intermediate its ends the mandrel has an annular external rib 7. Around the mandrel and resting upon the ribs 7 there is a sleeve 8 whose upper end is, preferably, outwardly flared.

Threaded onto the reduced upper end of Serial No. 344,231.

the guide 4: there is a sleeve like expander 9 which surrounds the mandrel beneath the rib 7 and whose upper end is tapered, as at 10, said tapered portion having an external key 11.

There are the expansible jaws 12 which are united integrally to the ring 13 and which have the slots l i between them. The ring 13 closely surrounds the mandrel 3 and is normally spaced above the sleeve 8 and its under side is formed to conform to the shape of the upper end of said sleeve. The jaws may thus be evpanded out into engagement with a surrounding pipe to be pulled, by the expander 9, but will normally be out of such engagement. The inner faces of the aws are downwardly flared to lit the tapering portion 10 and their outer surfaces are toothed.

The threads (5 may be right hand threads it in that case the threads connecting the em sections, and connecting the'stein l and -uide lto the mandrel should all be left hand threads.

use the device is assembled, as shown in l iguro l and let down into the pipe to l the jaw teeth in frictional the pipe. An upward pull is then exerte: through the stem l causing the mandrel and expander to move upwardly, ;-'c.ative to the and the tapering portion ll) of the expander 9 will wedge between and expand the jaws into secure enggement with the pipe to be pulled. A further upward pull will now be effective to dislodge and remove the stuck pipe if the same can be done. The sleeve 8 is arral "ed to abut the ring 13 to limit the upwa d movement of the mandrel relative to the jaws 12. If the pipe cannot be dislodged, and pulled, the stem and mandrel may be appropriately turned to screw the mandrel and guide el upwardly relative the expander 9, but said mandrel being held against actual upward movement relative to the jaws and the jaws being in gripping relation with the surrounlling pipe, the re sult will be that the expander 9 will be forced downwardly relative to the jaws and will be released from said jaws to permit them to contract and release the stick pipe and the tool can then be withdrawn from the well here. The mandrel 3 acts as a jack shaft to accomplish the release of the expander from the jaws, and the key 11 prevents the expander 9 from turning during the turning operation of the mandrel.

The drawings and description illustrate the device by way of example but the broad principle of the invention is comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A spear including a mandrel, a guide attached to the lower end thereof, an expander slidable on the mandrel having a threaded connection with the guide and having a tapered portion, expansible pipe engaging means on the mandrel and movable longitudinally thereon independently of the expander, said tapering portion of the expander being arranged to be wedged into the expansible engaging means to expand tiie same, opposing abutments carried by the mandrel and pipe engaging means, respectively, which cooperate, through the mandrel, with said threaded connection to move said expander, relative to said pipe engaging means, upon an appropriate rotation of the mandrel.

2. A spear including a mandrel, an expander slidable thereon, a threaded connection between the mandrel and expander, expansible pipe engaging means around the mandrel arranged, when in one position, to cooperate with and be expanded by the expander, and when in another position to permit the pipe engaging means to contract,

means carried by the mandrel and pipe engaging means, respectively, adapted to interengage to hold the mandrel and pipe engaging means against relative lon "udinal movon'iont, said interengaging being e'liective to cooperate, through said mandrel, with said threaded connection to move said expander from one position, to another position, relative to said pipe engaging means, upon the relative rotation of the mandrel and expander.

A spear including a mandrel, a guide at the lower end thereof having an external abutment, an expander slidable on the 1nan-.

expander having opposing abutments which are effective to cooperate, through said mandrel, with said threaded connection to effeet the longitudinal movement of the expander on the mandrel out of such expanding position, upon the rotation of said mandrel relative to the expander. V

A spear including a tubular mandrel, a tubular guide at the lowerend thereof, an expander slidable on the mandrel having a tapering portion, a threaded connection between the mandrel and guide, expansible pipe engaging means on the mandrel above the expander formed to receive the tapering portion 01 and to be exoanded by said expander, means provided to prevent the relative rotation of the expander and pipe engaging means when said mandrel is in position to expand said engaging means, an abutment on the mandrel above the expander, an opposing abutment on the pipe engaging means and normally spaced above said mandrel abutment and a slidable sleeve on said mandrel between said abutments.

5. A spear including a tubular mandrel,

a tubular guide at the lower end thereof, an expander on the mandrel having a tapering portion, a threaded connection between the mandrel and. expander, expansible pipe engaging means on the mandrel above the expander, formed to receive the tapering portion of and to be expanded by said expander, means provided to prevent the relative rotation of the expander and pipe engaging means when said mandrel is in position to expand said engaging means, an abutment on the mandrel above the expander, an opposing abutment on the pipe engaging means and normally spaced above said mandrel abutment, and a slidable sleeve on the mandrel between said abutments.

(5. In a spear, a mandrel, an expansible pipe engaging means thereon, an expander thereon movable into active position into ceoperation with the pipe engaging means to expand said engaging means into pipe engaging position, and into inactive position out of such cooperation to permit the engaging means to contract, a threaded connection between the mandrel and expander, interengaging means between the pipe engaging means and mandrel, said interengaging means including a sleeve slidable on the mandrel, said mandrel forming a a-ck shaft ellectivo to operate through said. interengaging means and threaded connection to move said expander into said inactive position, upon rotation of the mandrel in a selected direction.

In testimony whereof I name to this specification.

ELLsWoa'rn GRAY.

have signed my ios 

